An American soldier was killed and three others were injured in an attack south of Baghdad, the US Army said Saturday.

The military said the soldiers' vehicle was "ambushed by a vehicle-born improvised explosive device" in Mahmoudiyah, some 30 kilometers south of Baghdad.

Two of the injured soldiers were evacuated to a combat hospital. The third wounded soldier returned to duty after treatment.

On Friday, US President Bush said in Louisiana he remained committed to bringing democracy to Iraq. The United States "will complete the mission" there, he said.

"We have a historic opportunity: the establishment of a peaceful and democratic Iraq in the heart of the Middle East," the US leader said, "which will remove a danger, strike a blow against terrorists and make America more secure." (Albawaba.com)